SAN MATEO (CelebrityAccess) – Roblox has been actively working with the music industry, primarily through individual artist and label partnerships. Still, it is now taking a broader approach with platform-wide music features. Music discovery took center stage at its recent developers conference (RDC) as a vital part of the platform’s plans.
One of the big announcements was a new feature called Now Playing, which is set to launch later this year. The feature will enable users to discover music while organically navigating virtual experiences on Roblox. It will allow them to identify the songs they’re listening to and “like” their favorites, creating a more immersive and music-driven environment. These likes will feed into new charts launching in early 2025, ranking not only music but also music-related experiences within the platform.
Additionally, Roblox officially announced its partnership with music distributor DistroKid, giving creators access to a broad music library across genres like pop, electronic, dance, and rock. However, this phase has some limitations: artists won’t receive royalties during the beta stage of the DistroKid deal unless they own 100% of their publishing rights and aren’t registered with a performing rights organization (PRO). This restriction has drawn attention as the broader music industry hopes for more equitable licensing agreements.
Some labels, such as Monstercat, value freely providing music to platforms like Roblox to boost revenues elsewhere, such as through streaming. Meanwhile, startups like Styngr have partnered with major labels like Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG) to license music in Roblox.
While Roblox has taken a partnerships-driven approach, the company’s push into music discovery could signal a bigger move towards more comprehensive music licensing deals.
